PETERS: Organizers of anti-racism protest succeeded in spite of themselves

In other words, it’s likely the organizers were not people of colour, and while they had good intentions, their presence did not allow space for people of colour to take the lead.

Nonetheless, the spark had been lit. Potential participants had a time, a place and a cause, and that was all they needed.

There were several hundred people in attendance, and there would have been more had the media not been so efficient in publishing the cancellation announcement.

For those who still have their heads in the sand, wilfully or not, those who spoke at the rally showed that racism is indeed still present in Kamloops.

It rears its ugly head in the lives of racialized Kamloopsians every day, including from the people entrusted with enforcing our laws.

That may be a surprise to those of us who are not filled with anxiety every time we speak to someone with a badge.

In the United States, every day since George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, protests of a much larger scale have been unfolding.

Those demonstrations have been met with mixed receptions from local police forces.

Some are brave enough to engage with vulnerability. Some are scared – and react as scared people do when given guns, riot gear, and a mandate from elected leadership.

How long will they carry on?

It depends. How long will systemic racism carry on?

Here in Kamloops, the organizers of Thursday’s protest succeeded in spite of themselves.

It’s what happens when a movement is bigger than the individuals associated with it.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by James Peters

PETERS: Organizers of anti-racism protest succeeded in spite of themselves

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